The Confrontation (Chapter Four)

Nathan looked at her in shock. "Well, it's a good thing that he does. Otherwise, I probably would've never known. I mean, you were never going to tell me, right?" he said. Haley shook her head.

"No, I wasn't," she replied.

"That's nice, Hales. Real nice," he said. Haley rolled her eyes.

"Why should I have told you, Nathan?" Haley asked.

"It would've been nice to know that my…" he trailed off as he realized he was just about to call her his wife. "It would've been nice to know, that's all," he said.

"You think finding out someone has cancer is nice?" Haley asked. Nathan shook his head.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nathan asked. Haley took a deep breath.

"I didn't think it'd be fair to tell you," she said. He sat down in a chair beside her.

"What?" he asked.

"Nathan, we're not married anymore. When I was diagnosed, we hadn't seen each other in more than eight years. I didn't want to pull you into everything associated with this," she said.

"Ok. I understand that. But why didn't you tell Lucas, Karen, Peyton, Jake or even Brooke? Especially Lucas," Nathan said.

"I didn't want to burden them," Haley said.

"Burden them? Haley, that's ridiculous. They care about you," Nathan said.

"Oh, really? The minute I said the word 'leukemia', Lucas bolted. He may care about me, Nathan, but it doesn't mean he can deal with a cancer patient. And he shouldn't have to either. I am dealing with it fine on my own with my family," she said.

"So, your family does know?" Nathan asked.

"Of course. You saw Taylor badgering me about the stupid wheelchair," Haley said.

"So, if you told them, why didn't you tell any of your friends?" Nathan asked.

"I just answered that question, Nathan. If you think there's a deeper answer somewhere, there's not so stop trying to trick me into answering it again when there is no other answer," Haley said.

"I think you should have told them," he said.

"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what you think. It was my decision not to tell certain people that I was sick and no one else's. And Lucas had no business telling all of you that I was sick," Haley exploded.

"Why?" Nathan asked.

"Because I see the way you're looking at me and I don't like it," she said. "What are you talking about?" he asked.

"You're looking at me pitifully. You feel sorry for me. That's why you came here and that's why you're talking to me now," she said.

"That's ridiculous," he said. Haley looked at him.

"Is it? Before you knew I was sick, you barely said two words to me. In fact, you didn't speak to me at all. You spoke to Taylor instead and you hate her," she said.

"I don't hate Taylor," Nathan said.

"Yes, you do and that's not the point," Haley said.

"I didn't talk to you because I was surprised to see you. I didn't know what to say," Nathan said. Haley laughed.

"After nine years? After the last time you heard from me was when I sent back your annulment papers signed? Come on, Nathan," Haley said.

"Let's not go there, Haley," Nathan said.

"Why not?" Haley asked.

"Because I don't want to get into an argument with you," he said.

"Why not, Nathan? You must be angry as hell after all this time," Haley said.

"Haley, don't," he said.

"See? You do feel sorry for me," she said.

"No, I don't. That's absurd," he said.

"That's why you won't yell at me. You figure since I'm dying, the last thing I need is to be yelled at for something I did a lifetime ago, right?" Haley asked.

"Don't say that," he said.

"I mean, what's a little thing like abandoning you to go on tour compared to being dead?" Haley asked.

"I see what you're doing, Haley. You're trying to get me mad enough so that I'll leave you alone," Nathan said.

"And why isn't it working? It never took much to get you mad," Haley asked. He was impressed that she wasn't going to deny it.

"I've changed in nine years, Haley. I don't have such a short temper anymore," he said.

"Well, this is hardly fair," Haley said, "In nine years, Brooke and Lucas get married, Peyton gets into a car accident, you discover tranquility and I get served with a death sentence."

"Now, you're being ridiculous," Nathan said. Haley looked at him. "You didn't get served with a death sentence. There are many good treatments for cancer, Haley. Your chances of survival are a lot better now than they were just-" Nathan began.

"Than they were a few years ago? I could go on to live a complete and healthy life. Yeah, I've heard all that. They told me that at the beginning. And I believed them. At first," Haley said.

"What do you mean?" Nathan said.

"I've been in remission and out of remission," she said.

"So?" Nathan asked.

"So the chances of a lengthy survival for me are not as good as they used to be," Haley said.

"What exactly are you saying?" Nathan asked.

"I'm saying that I'm dying, Nathan, and a pep talk is not going to change that," Haley said firmly. Nathan sighed heavily. Then, a doctor came into the room. Nathan guessed that it was Haley's doctor because she smirked at him.

"Well, uh, if you're here, the news can't be good," Haley said. The doctor raised his eyebrows. Nathan thought that he should leave, but since Haley hadn't said anything, he didn't. He wasn't going to leave her alone to receive potential bad news.

"That sense of humour, Miss James. I must say, you are without a doubt, one of the liveliest patients I've treated," he said. Haley looked at him.

"Just give it to me straight," Haley said. The doctor looked at Nathan and then back at Haley.

"Um, I can leave if you want," Nathan said.

"No, no. It might be good if someone were with her for a change," he said. Haley glared at the doctor. Nathan looked at Haley for confirmation.

Haley sighed as she said, "You don't have to stay, Nathan. This is my problem, not yours. So, go see Peyton. She could probably use the company."

"Miss James, I would appreciate it if someone were here with you. You might need someone," the doctor said.

"I can make this decision for myself, Doctor," Haley insisted. She looked at Nathan. She smiled at him and nodded, telling him he can leave. Nathan nodded. He could tell that Haley didn't want him around for whatever the doctor was about to tell her. He thought it seemed important and he agreed that someone should be with her, but if Haley wanted to be alone, he had no right to stay. He shut the door quietly behind him.